To dodge obstacles, pigeons have to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. By altering their wing posture, the birds can successfully navigate tight spots, researchers report March 2 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.

Harvard University researchers filmed and modeled the flight dynamics of wild rock pigeons (Columbia livia) as they flew through a series of plastic poles. The pigeons adopted a folded wing posture, giving them greater stability, when they had to traverse smaller gaps between poles. Faced with wider gaps, they opted instead for a more energy efficient position, holding their wings high as they flapped upward. The birds seem to weigh their options depending on the relative danger of the obstacle course, the researchers conclude.